Page 38 of Resurgent

“I can see that for myself, thank you, Captain.”

His eyebrow raises, but he doesn't react. “Do you need me to bring a chair out for you?”

“No.”

“Do you need me to bring the target closer?”

“No”

“Do you need me to teach you how to aim?”

“Fuck off," I snap, and Gods am I regretting coming out here with him.

“I will when you fix it.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Fix it, Annalise. You're not the type to let anyone coddle you, and you can outshoot most of the recruits at this academy, so take a deep breath and fix your fucking shot.”

“I’m trying! Can’t you see that?”

“No, I can’t. I see you burrowing deep into your self-doubt and missing the same target you’ve been blowing the entire chest and head out of for months—hell, probably years.”

Gods, I hate him, but I hate that he’s right even more.

Popping the magazine out, I step to the table holding my ammo and allow my eyes to close as muscle memory takes over. Each bullet slides into the magazine, a rhythmic click of metal on metal settling my rage.

When all ten rounds are in, I open my eyes and step back into the shooting box without another word.

Feet shoulder-width apart. Left foot slightly in front of my right. Deep breath in…and then out.

Raising the barrel to my target, I look down my sights. Another deep breath in.

Hold.

Slow release.

Pop.

“Would you look at that? There she is,” Hunter calls, already halfway to where Kali and Tyr are standing guard, with his back to me—and to the target.

“You weren’t even watching!”

“I didn’t need to. I knew you were going to hit it the second you closed your eyes.”

“How?”

"Because the target was never your biggest obstacle." He glances over his shoulder, a knowing smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. "You were. In that instant, you stopped trying to prove you could do it...and simply did what you do best."

Chapter fourteen

Annalise

“Please, Tyr. Don’t,” I whisper aloud as my tears threaten to betray me. “Don’t tell me everything will get better. I can’t hear that right now.”

“It will. Just take a deep breath.”

“Take a deep breath?” I laugh sardonically. “A breath won’t miraculously give my leg strength. It won’t repair the muscles he cut through, or the fucking damage I did when I pulled the fucking dagger out!” I scream, the words ripping violently out of my chest as uninvited tears fill my eyes.